The Lucky Heiress

“Can one really learn so well through self-study?” Chu Lan asked.

“I was blessed with exceptional talent from a young age,” Wei Jinyi answered.

Upon hearing this, Chu Lan turned to Wei Ruo and asked, “Miss Wei, I am intrigued by your Guard. Would you allow him to spar with me?”

-My Lord, I fear that if my Guard unintentionally injures you, I wouldn’t know how to handle such a situation,” Wei Ruo responded.

“As the challenge was proposed by me, if I get injured, I will not hold anyone

accountable.”

“Absolutely not, my Lord. You hold many responsibilities, and any injury would have far-reaching consequences which the Wei Residence cannot bear,” Wei

Ruo said.

-Miss Wei makes a fair point. How about this, my Guard shall spar with yours.

That way, there’s no need for worries,” Chu Lan decided.

With Chu Lan insisting, Wei Ruo could not refuse. She turned to look at Wei

Jinyi.

Wei Jinyi nodded to Wei Ruo, indicating he could handle the situation.

After receiving Wei Jinyi’s response, Wei Ruo agreed to Chu Lan’s proposal, “Then I must comply. However, let’s wait until we reach a safer location to spar, the terrain here is too complex and dangerous to maneuver.”

“Okay,” Chu Lan agreed.

Then, the group continued to inspect the area along the river.

When they returned to the clearing an hour later, Chu Lan asked, “Miss Wei, may I have the pleasure to taste your snake soup?”

Wei Ruo originally planned to bring the snake back to the Wei Family and eat it herself with Wei Jinyi, but Chu Lan shamelessly asked for a taste.

■Tm afraid not, my Lord. The snake is poisonous. If not prepared correctly, the soup could be harmful,” Wei Ruo explained.

“I trust in Miss Wei’s culinary skills. If Miss Wei still has concerns, I can have my men taste it first to ensure it’s safe,” Chu Lan said.

Chu Lan left Wei Ruo with no room for refusal.

“Then I have no choice but to comply.”

Wei Ruo reluctantly agreed.

Thereafter, they headed towards a nearby campsite where the peasants rested. As it was working hours, farmers and refugees were all out in the fields, leaving the campsite deserted.

Chu Lan planned to have the meal there and the Government Officials guarding the area promptly cleaned a small house for them.

Although it was relatively clean, it was very basic. The cooking area was an open space just outside the door.

A temporarily built stove, a large iron pot, and the only seasoning available was a bit of salt.

Wei Ruo asked Xiaobei to prepare the ingredients and start a fire, while instructing Maid Xiumei to go back to her carriage to get some spices and seasonings. If they only had salt, the snake soup would not taste good.

Meanwhile, Chu Lan had his Guard spar with Wei Jinyi.

The two began to exchange moves on a nearby open space. Only ten moves in,

Wei Jinyi defeated Chu Lan’s subordinate.

Chu Lan’s subordinate fell, while Wei Jinyi did not have a strand of sweat on him. The gap in their skills was evident.

Chu Lan’s brows furrowed, then relaxed. He was surprised at the martial arts skills of the person before him, but also relieved.

After watching the match, Chu Lan felt that this person was not the same as the one who attacked him before.

This man’s skills seemed to surpass that of the other one! If this was the person who attacked him that day, he would not have been saved by Xu Heyou.

Chu Lan approached Wei Jinyi, asking, “What’s your name?”

“Wang Jin,” Wei Jinyi replied.

“Would you like to serve by my side?” Chu Lan asked.

“Thank you for the offer, my Lord, but the Wei Family has saved my life and raised me,” Wei Jinyi replied.

“In that case, I won’t force you. However, whenever you decide to move on, you’ll always be welcome in my service,” Chu Lan said.

“I appreciate the consideration, my Lord,” Wei Jinyi replied.

Chu Lan felt more at ease with Wei Jinyi than he did at first. He appeared ordinary, but his bearing and gaze were extraordinary, fitting his skilled fighter persona.

By the time their conversation ended, the snake soup and hot pot Wei Ruo was preparing had begun to waft a savory smell.

Wei Ruo didn’t cook the meal herself, but assisted from the side. The main chef was Maid Xiumei.

The snake was skinned and gutted, then marinated in cooking wine and ginger to remove the gamey flavor. Half was used to make snake soup, the remaining half was used for snake hot pot. The soup seasoning was relatively simple, just salt and some pepper.

The method for cooking the snake hot pot was similar to cooking an eel hot pot. The snake meat was stir-fried with spring onion, garlic, ginger, cooking wine, and soy sauce. The bottom of the clay pot was lined with garlic, the stir-fried snake meat was transferred into it and simmered until the meat was tender.

Catching sight of Chu Lan, Wei Ruo lost all interest in cooking additional dishes to accompany the snake and asked Maid Xiumei to just finish off the snake.

After the snake soup and snake hot pot were ready, Wei Ruo let Chu Lan’s retinue have some soup and hot pot to try. After the retinue tasted and confirmed there was no poison, Wei Ruo dished out a bowl of soup and a plate of hot pot for Chu Lan.

And then, Wei Ruo served the snake soup and hot pot to herself, Wei Jinyi,

Maid Xiumei, and Xiaobei.

Wei Ruo had initially stated that she had a good relationship with her servants inside her household. They would share good food together without discrimination when dining outside. Therefore, Wei Ruo’s actions did not raise any suspicions from Chu Lan.

After having a taste, Chu Lan praised, “Miss Wei’s culinary skills are as astonishing as her farming knowledge.”

Unlike before, this time Chu Lan was generous with his praises for Wei Ruo’s cooking.

His attitude towards Wei Ruo had noticeably changed from their initial meeting. Though he acknowledged her dexterity before, but he did not regard her so favorably.

Now, his admiration and interest in her come second only to Xu Heyou.

“My Lord, you are giving credit to the wrong person. Today’s snake soup and hot pot were prepared by my maid, Xiumei,” Wei Ruo said.

Chu Lan smiled and said, “Miss Wei, you truly are fortunate to be surrounded by such talented individuals.”

“I’m flattered, my Lord. It’s actually your side that is full of accomplished individuals,” Wei Ruo replied.

Once everyone had finished the snake soup and hot pot, Wei Ruo took the opportunity to excuse herself as it was getting late.

Chu Lan agreed and personally escorted Wei Ruo into her carriage, then watched as their party departed.

After some distance, Wei Ruo let out a long breath, “That was exhausting! Being around him makes it difficult for me to even breathe! The talking was tiring, the work was tiring, and trying to decipher what he really meant was even more tiring! I’m completely worn out!”

“Don’t worry, he won’t be a threat to you in the future,” Wei Jinyi reassured Wei Ruo.

“Big brother, you always know how to comfort me,” Wei Ruo said, leaning back against the carriage, “Today’s disguise was really a wise move, it saved us from a lot of trouble.”

Wei Jinyi didn’t respond to her remarks but said to Wei Ruo, “Ruo Ruo, if you hear rumors in the future that something unfortunate has happened to me, don’t believe them..”